Chapter 1: Hunger and Heartbreak

The first time I nearly faint for Tunde Oladipo, I swear, hunger wan finish me because of love.

Those days, anytime I spot Tunde for corridor, my mind dey do skip-skip. I dey squeeze myself inside corset, dey chop cabbage like goat, dey beg make my body reduce quick-quick. But hunger no gree leave me alone. The struggle na real wahala.

That fateful PE class, my body nearly give up from hunger.

Sun dey roast, my belle dey drum like masquerade festival. As we dey run laps, my leg begin weak, eye dey turn. I almost collapse when Tunde rush come catch me before I touch ground.

Tunde hold my hand tight, no let go, and drag me straight go canteen.

Him palm dey warm pass my own, sweat dey my body but e no send. As we reach canteen, the air dey smell of hot puff-puff and fried fish. People dey look but he no send anybody.

He try hide the vex for him face as he yarn, "Abeg, you fit stop all these yeye diet? From now, if anybody try insult you about your body, I go handle them myself, you hear?"

Him voice dey shake small, like person wey dey swallow annoyance. E shock me say person fit care like this. My heart jump like talking drum. That moment, I know say kasala fit burst. If person like Tunde dey fight for me, who I be?

But na that same day, I carry my boldness, go confess to Tunde.

I bite my lip, heart dey jump, but I still talk. After all, if I no talk now, when I go talk?

He size me from up to down, small mocking smile for him mouth. "Hey, Fatty, you no dey shame? You no feel say you dey disgusting?"

Time just freeze. The way he eye me, e be like person wey dey watch jollof burn for pot—eyes narrow, lips twist. The mockery for him face strong like ogiri. I wan vanish. My hand dey shake so te I nearly drop my bag.

I no know how I go survive tomorrow for this class.